Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1887-01-15
THROUGH THE ROCKIES.

range. We We're travelling in the con-
struction car from Donald to Farwell
lRevelstoke.) We were delayed, as the
road was not then travelled over, and some
little finishing touches were being execut-
ed in front. We were not sorry to spend
a couple of hours in such a scene. The
great glacier was in front Of ns-a roaring
torrent behind, spanned by the beautiful
trestle-work of a wonderful bridge. On
gu right there rose up a snow-croWned
summit, and away down beneath US on the
left the brawling Beaver river, whilst the
yellow light stole in among the huge pine
the line the construction town, one OF the
best specimens We saw-"Canyasville," we
called it, There was one OF these anvas
tents worthy of note. 1t was two yards
high, two yards broad, and two yards and
a half long. A stove pipe protruded from
it behind, suggesting that the nights in
that high latitude were Q little cold; whilst
in front, there was the sign in large letters,
s'Doctor's Shop" Near this was d log
building, with a stretch of canvas at the
side, rejoicing in the dignity Of a sugges-
tive name, "The Brunswick Hotel" Our
group consisted of Mr.. Fraser, the artist,
looking out for subjects for his brush, a
little perplexed by the grandeur and varie-
ty on every side; Mr.. McAlister, the pro-
prietor of Carbett Guthrie, in Scotland,
who had come out to see the new lands
along the new line; and the writer, who
was returning, after sixteen years absence,
to have a look at his old home in British
Columbia. We were taking a saunter
among the groups of constructionists-
Canadians, Yankees, Italians, Germans,
AVID others who were engaged in the work.
They had just been to dinner, and were
returning from their several mess-places.
One enterprising landlord of a hotel adj
dressed IS when passing, "Have dinner,
gentlemen:'' NO." said the most out
spoken of our company, 1--WE are to dine
further on; but if you could give US "a red
herrin' we would be obliged to you" The
mar looked at Ill with an expression Of
amazement, mingled with contempt, which
brought out the old Scotch in perfection,
and said with genuine Doric accent, "a
red herrin' in the middle of the Rockies
who ever heard the like O. that; what next
/ wonder! Gentlemen, We should gang tae
the North Pole, and ask for plums." And
he added again, still more CONTEMPORARY,
"a red herrin' in the middle of the Rock
ies!' "Why not?" l said. "a red herring
would be the best thing going here. Therei is
g plethora of butchers meat sailed, and
butcher meat canned. A red herring
would be the most agreeable change, and
not such a difficult thing to get either"
"And," added Mr.. McAlister, this new
line will make red herring as common in
the middle OF the Rockies as in the heart
of NOVA Scotia. With the Atlantic at one
and and the Pacific at the other, they will
soon have herring and all kinds Of fish in
abundance" Such was the prophecy in
passing. | returned by the same line, and
two months after was at the same place.
What a change! the groups Of construct
ionists had passed away, and with them
the numerous canvas tents. The doctors
shop was not to be seen. The Brunswick
hotel and that of the amazed Scotchman
had gone. Near to its site rose the modern
''Glacier hotel" Fraser and some of his
brother artists were deserted under their
huge umbrella at work upon the Syndicate
Peak. We sent up a kulloo that speedily
brought him down. We were now passing
through at the rate of over three thousand
miles in less than five days. No time had
we now for sauntering and easy talk in the
charming scene. A hurried meal we were
permitted before the cry was given, "All
aboard" but sufficient to realize the |
change already wrought. We had for our
dinner salmon fresh from the Columbia
and Fraser rivers, and fruit delicious from
New Westminster. Our same train
took along quantities of fish packed in ice, |
and fruit new gathered. The day of
amazement at a red herring in the midst of
the Rockies was gone. There were fish
and fruit on the table, and there were fish
and fruit being carried along for the cow
boys at Calgary and the sheep farmers at
Regina, and the farmers at Brandon and
merchants Of Winnipeg. The new line
had started new branches of industry, and
connected those who had neither fruit nor
fish with those who had abundance and to
spare. Travellers can now have "a red